PCTEL Unveils New Multi-band Mobile Antennas with Integrated GPS Receiver
PCTEL, Inc. has unveiled two new multi-band mobile antennas with integrated GPS receiver technology. The new models, based on PCTEL’s Medallion and Sharkfin multi-band antenna platforms, have been enhanced with a high sensitivity 16-channel receiver that provides immediate and accurate GPS position reporting in a single low profile housing and without the need for additional equipment.
Featuring PCTEL’s successful wideband technology, these two models eliminate the need to install separate antennas in a single vehicle in order to achieve seamless wireless data communications and GPS location capability. Both models provide instant "plug and play" GPS tracking with a digital interface, eliminating the need for GPS receiver integration in voice and data radios. Police departments nationwide could save millions of dollars by implementing GPS tracking of their vehicles and voice and data communications with a single antenna rather than two antennas and a separate GPS receiver.
“The addition of these two antenna solutions to our mobile GPS antenna platform support PCTEL’s continued goal to become the premier high-value GPS antenna supplier for commercial and defense applications,” said Jeff Miller, vice president and general manager of PCTEL’s Antenna Products Group. “By adding GPS capability with an integrated receiver to our multi-band antenna designs, PCTEL is able to provide customers a one stop vendor solution for their asset tracking requirements.”
Both the Medallion PCTMDL-RCVR and the Sharkfin GPSQB-RCVR models utilize attractive, low profile radomes designed to withstand severe environmental conditions for trouble-free operation in mass transit, asset tracking, military and defense, public safety, field measurement and wireless network optimization applications. Both models will be available for worldwide distribution in November, 2009.
MTI Wireless Edge to Announce its New UHF Circular Embedded Antenna
MTI Wireless Edge has released its new UHF Circular Embedded Antenna family, specially designed to meet the requirements of embedded antennas applications such as Hand Held integrated readers and applications that require small form factor antennas.
MTI offers 2 antenna models with 3 dBic gain: MT-241024/SLH – 90 by 90 mm for 902 to 928 MHz and wide band MT241026/SLH – 95 by 95 mm, 856 to 965MHz.
The new models have excellent electrical performances, 1.3:1 VSWR (typ) over temp that is not common in such antennas size and very good weight/performance ratio (less then 190 gr.)
“MTI is constantly increasing its RFID portfolio and committed to continue to lead the RFID antenna market,” said Dov Feiner, MTI CEO. “The new high performance high quality antennas increase our portfolio beyond our standard flat panel antenna offering.”
 Antenova Introduces MStar Based GPS RADIONOVA RF Antenna Modules for Small Portable GPS Device Applications
Antenova Ltd, the integrated antenna and RF solutions company, has added the new GPS RADIONOVA RF Antenna Modules based on the MStar MSB2122 low power single chip GPS receiver IC. Antenova further announced the module has been successfully integrated into a thin credit card size personal tracker reference design well suited for personal safety, executive security and lone worker applications.
“Antenova’s RF Antenna Modules have been designed from inception to deliver a high performing drop-in system solution that will work with a range of GPS receiver chips,” said Greg McCray, CEO of Antenova. “This flexibility enables us to provide customers with an RF antenna module with the GPS receiver option of their choice and one that is best suited for their mobile applications. The M10295 and M10300 GPS RADIONOVA RF Antenna Modules, incorporate the MStar MSB2122 Poseidon low current consumption GPS IC with Antenova’s high performing GPS antenna technology. The M10295 and M10300 are the result of customer demand for low cost and low profile modules for small form factor devices such as slim tracker devices, GPS watches and other sport and fitness devices.”
Antenova’s GPS RADIONOVA M10295 and M10300 are flash based highly integrated GPS RF Antenna Modules suitable for a wide range of embedded GPS applications. The devices combine the high performance MStar MSB2122 Poseidon IC with Antenova’s high efficiency antenna technology to provide an optimal radiation pattern for GPS reception for handheld or portable applications.
The M10295 is designed for a low profile planar mounting with all front-end components contained in a 28 by 13 by 4.7 mm3 single package module providing a complete GPS system solution. The device also incorporates an antenna switch with built-in current sensing for optional active antenna connection. A lower profile version of 3.1 mm in height is also available for ultra thin device applications such as credit card size personal trackers or lone worker tags. A credit card size personal tracker reference design incorporating the lower profile M10295 RF antenna module is available from Antenova.
M10300 is a small compact 25 by 8 by 6 mm3 module comprising of a surface mount RF module and a passive antenna. All the front-end components are contained in the RF module, providing a complete GPS receiver with maximum design flexibility in multiple platforms. The M10300 provides optimal radiation pattern for GPS reception on small, typically 40 by 40 mm2 or smaller, boards and has been optimized for watch and small tracker applications. The M10300 benefits from Antenova’s antenna matching circuit, which allows the antenna to be optimized for a specific product without having to change the antenna or the module.
The M10295 and M10300 operate on a single 3.6 V positive bias supply with low power consumption and available low power modes for further power savings. Both devices support stand alone autonomous and assisted GPS (A-GPS) operation through MStar’s ephemeris data network.
National Semiconductor Introduces Wireless Basestation IF Sampling Receiver Subsystem
 National Semiconductor Corp. has released an intermediate frequency (IF) sampling receiver reference design for multi-carrier, multi-standard wireless basestations addressing GSM/EDGE, WCDMA, LTE and WiMAX standards. The subsystem reference design kit gives radio designers the necessary technical material – reference design board, software, schematic, bill of materials (BOM) and Gerber files – to accelerate the design and development of high-performance radio receivers.
The SP16160CH1RB reference design board facilitates evaluation of the IF receive signal path performance under a variety of input conditions. When combined with a low-noise, high-linearity RF front-end and sufficient IF filtering, the reference design enables high sensitivity receivers that exceed the stringent multi-carrier GSM requirements in both normal and blocking conditions. Improved receiver sensitivity translates to enhanced basestation capacity and coverage, allowing service providers to reach more customers and deliver a higher quality of service.
The SP16160CH1RB delivers an IF chain receiver sensitivity of -105 dBm, with a 9 dB carrier-to-noise ratio in a 200 kHz channel, at 192 MHz input IF. With the digitally-controlled variable gain amplifier (DVGA) set at a maximum gain of 22 dB, the sensitivity is limited primarily by the noise contribution of the DVGA. In the presence of a strong blocker, with the DVGA gain set at 12 dB and blocker level kept at 1.6 dBm input to the ADC, the SP16160CH1RB board delivers sensitivity of -86 dBm. In this blocking condition, the receiver sensitivity is determined by the ADC’s high spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR).
The SP16160CH1RB operates from a single 5 V supply and includes the dual-channel ADC16DV160 16-bit, 160 mega-samples per second (MSPS) pipeline ADC, dual-channel LMH6517 DVGA and LMK04031B clock jitter cleaner. The overall performance of the reference design is enabled by the high dynamic performance of the ADC, the low-noise and high-linearity of the DVGA and ultra-low rms jitter of the clock jitter cleaner. The ADC16DV160 delivers a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 76.3 dBFS and SFDR of 91.2 dBFS at 192 MHz input IF, while the LMH6517 provides a noise figure of 6 dB and OIP3 of 45 dBm, and the LMK04031B clock jitter cleaner offers near 150 fsec of rms clock jitter.
To simplify evaluation of the SP16160CH1RB, National offers the WaveVision 5.1 data capture board and WaveVision 5 software, which enables data capture and analysis, as well as complete programmable configuration of the ADC16DV160 and LMH6517 via a common serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus. Included with the SP16160CH1RB board, is a PIC loader board for configuring the LMK04031B.
Available now, the SP16160CH1RB subsystem reference design kit is priced at $995 each.
Atmel Introduces Next-generation, Feature-rich Active AM/FM Antenna ICs
Atmel Corp. has released a new active antenna integrated circuit (IC) designed for AM/FM car antenna applications. The new ATR4252 IC provides the high integration, automatic gain control, supply voltage regulator with overvoltage protection and an antenna sensor. Designers can now develop smaller, high-performance active antenna solutions for applications located in the mirror, bumper, rear or side windows of a car. In addition, the antenna detection functionality is well suited for modern window or glass antennas. The robust IC also addresses other antenna types including window, pole or shark fin antennas with its small 4 mm by 5 mm footprint.
The ATR4252 provides improved performance, especially for noise and linearity behavior ¾ two important features for antenna ICs. The device is equipped with a broad range of useful functions including voltage regulation, which is an important feature when un-stabilized phantom feed is used, and 50 Ohm cable support to allow for use with more cost-effective cables. In addition, the Automatic Gain Control (AGC) avoids problems with large signals, while maintaining a high sensitivity level.
“Active antenna designs using ICs are becoming more popular since they offer many advantages over discrete solutions,” said Carsten Friedrich, marketing manager for Car Radio ICs at Atmel Corp. “With the introduction of Atmel's new device, designers can now develop different active AM/FM antennas with excellent performance fast and easily.”
Similar to its predecessor ATR4251, the new device enables crystal-clear reception without distortion even under extreme difficult and rapidly fluctuating field strength conditions typically found in moving antenna systems. The board design can be extremely small and the ICs provide a rich set of features, including ESD protection and excellent system performance.
Samples of the car radio antenna IC ATR4252 are now available in small-outline QFN24 packages. Pricing starts at US $0.98 for 100,000-piece quantities. To simplify and accelerate product design, a demo board plus an application note are available under NDA.
Taoglas Unveils First SMT GPS Patch Antennas Guaranteed to Pass M2M Telematics Assembly and Certification Tests
 Taoglas, a M2M antenna provider, has launched the SGP series, the first surface mount (SMT) GPS antenna products guaranteed to pass final device product certification for reflow solder profile tests, device environmental tests and mechanical testing for machine-to-machine (M2M) telematics devices.
With the SGP line, M2M manufacturers now have a GPS antenna that is delivered via tape and reel and can be mounted during the standard reflow process. Automatic assembly brings many efficiency savings including quicker and more accurate assembly and consistency of electrical connection. In this design, Taoglas has taken the traditional patch antenna technology, mounted the antenna onto a PCB and delivered the feedpoint out to the side of the patch without exposing the feedline. While current market antenna feedpoints crack during high temperature and vibration tests because of exposed feed lines, the SGP antennas are durable and resilient enough to withstand temperatures of -40°C to 105°C, and vibrations of 20 G for cars and motorcycles. SGS certification has been made for these results.
There are four sizes offered; 25 by 25 by 5 mm, 18 by 18 by 5 mm, 15 by 15 by 5 mm and 12 by 12 by 4.5 mm. Future products in the series will be; 25 by 25 by 2.8 mm and 18 by 18 by 2.8 mm for lower device PCB profile.
“All of the best solutions are simple, and this is the case with the surface mount SGP,” said Dermot O’Shea, director, Taoglas. “Because this antenna is mounted onto a PCB, there is no pin sticking out. For the first time, the antenna and module can now be mounted on the same side of the board, freeing up valuable real estate on compact mobile devices. Components can be placed directly on the other side of the board from the patch antenna. Pads are used for soldering the antenna to the board keeping it stable and enabling it to withstand high temperature, humidity and environmental tests. Following on from design wins in the OEM automotive area, we anticipate a high degree of interest from the M2M market for this ground-breaking design.”
GPS patch antenna technology offers high gain, a narrow bandwidth and can be right-hand circularly polarized, matching the characteristics of the actual signal itself. With the new generation of receivers, patch antennas can also pick up signals even when placed upside-down, in effect making them preferable to the much inferior gain of linear polarized chip, helix and PIFA antenna solutions.
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